It takes double overtime for the Blue Raiders to overtake Tech Sunday

Aug 29, 2010

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Golden Eagle soccer squad took
their matinee game against Middle Tennessee State into 105 minutes
of play Sunday afternoon on Blue Raider turf in Murfreesboro.

It was evident after the scoreless first half that the match-up
between TTU and former OVC opponent MTSU would be hard-fought.
Golden Eagle freshman keeper Becca Toler notched six
saves in the first half as the defense came together to deny 11
shots from MTSU, while the offense combined for three shots on the
other end during the first 45 minutes of the game.

Tech, looking to avenge their past two meetings with the Blue
Raiders, came out strong in the second half to put the first goal
of the game on the board. Sophomore midfielder Kerri Reid's unassisted goal
in the 49th minute of the match marked the first for
Tech in two meetings with MTSU.

With the game in control, the TTU defense came together to shut
down the Blue Raider offense, holding them to five missed shots
over the next 41 minutes of the game. Toler earned another three
saves for a total of nine on the day, doubling her career
total.

In the 90th minute however, Vanessa Mueggler broke
through the backfield on a pass from Heidel Johannessen to tie the
game at one all and send it into the first overtime period of the
match.

In their first extra minute scenario of the season, Tech went
nearly neck-and-neck with host MTSU, taking one shot to their two
and holding the score at 1-1 through the first OT.

The 105th minute of the game favored the Blue
Raiders, however, when Johannessen recorded her second assist of
the game with a pass to Hope Suominen, whose hard shot on the
ground bounced off of Toler's hands for the game-winner in the
second sudden death period.

"We really displayed a team effort this afternoon," said
first-year coach Daniel Brizard. "We were able to shake off the
tying goal for the first overtime period and come together to hold
off an imposing MTSU offense."

"Sudden death situations are something that every team needs to
be aware of and ready for," Brizard continued. "Today's match gave
us a taste of overtime competition against a high level
opponent."

Golden Eagle seniors Michelle Decker and Jen
Hoffman added two shots each on the match.

Tech will take on SEC powerhouse Vanderbilt on Friday in a night
game in Nashville scheduled to start at 7 p.m.